What is the WVC?The WVC is a group of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, students enrolled in veterinary programs, and other interested persons. These individuals form a voluntary Wisconsin team that receives special training to respond to animal emergencies, bio-terrorism and natural disasters.

Who sponsors the WVC?The WVC is a cooperative effort between the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s Division of Animal Health and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service—Veterinary Services. The WVC is a group of veterinarians, veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, students enrolled in veterinary programs, and other interested persons. These individuals form a voluntary Wisconsin team that receives special training to respond to animal emergencies, bioterrorism and natural disasters.

What does the WVC do?Members of the WVC assist in responding to local and state animal emergencies that overwhelm the local ability to respond and/or are specifically affecting animal health and welfare. In addition to animal disease outbreaks, the WVC may have the opportunity to respond voluntarily to environmental disasters such as tornadoes, floods, fires, blizzards or other disasters such as chemical spills or radiological contamination.

In an animal emergency, veterinary professionals can fill a wide variety of roles. The WVC exposes members to those roles.

When would the WVC need to help?Participation is voluntary. The WVC helps Wisconsin respond to and recover from large-scale disasters by allowing quick response with animal-care resources. The WVC identifies individuals willing to help in disasters and allows the Division of Animal Health to maintain contact with those individuals, notifying them rapidly if the state needs veterinary assistance. Any animal, any disaster, anywhere in Wisconsin.

Do WVC members get paid?Animal health professionals may join the National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps and become a temporary federal employee if asked to respond. As a federal employee, individuals may volunteer to be deployed to other states or countries as well as Wisconsin.

What kind of training do WVC members receive?To build the skills of animal-health professionals, WVC members receive no-cost training in foreign-animal disease recognition and reporting, emergency management and response, animal rescue, disaster medicine, and up-to-date information on diseases such as BSE and avian influenza. Through meetings and communications, WVC members are in direct contact with Division of Animal Health and USDA/VS Wisconsin based staffs.

Why should someone join the WVC?The WVC offers a unique opportunity to gain new perspectives and experience in veterinary medicine, and offers a new way to help Wisconsin. The WVC also offers training and continuing education opportunities available nowhere else.

The Wisconsin Veterinary Corps will be constituted with the following organizational structure:The Corps will be divided into six regions to coincide with the Wisconsin Emergency Management Regions of the state. (See map.)

The Northwest Region includes the following counties: Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland, Iron, Brunette, Washburn, Sawyer, Price, Polk, Barron, and Rusk. The Regional Office is located in Spooner, Wisconsin 54801-0126. The Animal Health District Veterinarian in the region is Dr. Tim Deveau. The Northeast Region includes the following counties: Vilas, Oneida, Forest, Florence, Marrinette, Lincoln, Langlade, Oconto, Menominee, Wood, Shawano, Portage and Marathon. The Regional Office is located at 2805 Martin Avenue, Wausau, Wisconsin 54401. The Animal Health District Veterinarians in this region are Drs. Tim Deveau and Ellen Hooker.

The West Central Region includes the following counties: St Croix, Dunn, Chippewa, Taylor, Pepin, Buffalo, Eau Claire, Clark, Pierce, Trempealeau, LaCrosse, Monroe and Jackson. The Regional Office is located at the State Police Barracks, 5005 Highway 53 South, Eau Claire, Wisconsin 54701. The Animal Health District Veterinarians in this region are Drs. Tim Deveau, Tom Varty, and Libby Balzer.

The Southeast Region includes the following counties: Ozaukee, Washington, Milwaukee, Waukesha, Jefferson, Walworth, Racine and Kenosha. The Regional Office is located at 21115 Highway 18, Waukesha, Wisconsin 53186. The Animal Health District Veterinarians in the region are Drs. Dick Bertz and Shelby Molina.

What are my obligations to the WVC?One may participate in the WVC at four different levels.

Tier one requires only that you have your name on a list to be called in an emergency. If you choose to participate in the emergency response, you will be instructed as to where to report. On reporting you will be given an assignment, provided necessary instruction and equipment, and escorted to your assigned area supervisor.

Tier two is for those who have the introductory training in the Incident Command System (ICS) and attends training in foreign animal disease recognition occasionally. If you choose to participate in an emergency response, you will be instructed as to where to report. On reporting you will be given an assignment, provided necessary instruction, materials and equipment. Then you will be introduced to your assigned area supervisor for further instruction and deployment.

Tier three is for those interested in working with their local county government(s) to assist in planning for and responding to animals in disaster emergencies in the area. They must receive training in ICS equivalent to I-200 (basic ICS), and must attend Foreign Animal Disease Recognition training at least every other year.

Tier four is for those interested in working with the local county government(s) and assists in coordinating the animals in disaster program in their region. They should have ICS 300 level training or above, and attend Foreign Animal Disease training on a regular basis. They should participate in at least one Regional Emergency Management meeting annually.

How do I join the WVC?One can join by writing or calling: DATCP, Division of Animal Health2811 Agriculture Drive Madison, WI 53708-8911 (608) 224-4872.

The receptionist will make sure that you speak with someone that can get the necessary information. You may also contact the District Veterinarian in your area, and he or she will make sure the information is forwarded to the DAH office. (See map and phone information.)